Ambulant surgery or one day surgery is a sudden short term stress and insult to the self integrity. A consultation with the surgeon to understand the situation is a very important part for your social learning process. It is also of interest for regaining self integration.

These two processes help people feel convinced of their ability and self influence in mastering life situations like this and in developing a self concept which is able to negotiate with stress and overcome it. You must realize that you can overcome the challenges presented by the operation.

It is a small procedure and that is why it was decided that it is best to perform it on out patient basis. Please keep in mind that a scratch or even a skin tag is painful. The wound after the operation is also not less but not more painful than that. It is a planned one and is covered with analgesics that turns pain mild or negligible. If you feel some pain, then feel assured that you are able to withstand it and to fight it. It is in any case under control and you have previous experience with similar  pain. You have also the advantage of being surrounded by doctors who are always on call for your help.

Be sure that if you understand your operation you will be able to put your previous experiences with similar situations to use to solve the small problem of ambulant surgery.  Do not give up if you can not move shortly after the operation or if you can’t at first achieve certain positions. Try again and let your nurse or visitors help you. You will succeed if you persist.

To be able to successfully withstand the operation, please:

1. BRING your relatives, family members and or friend with you for the last consultation with your doctor. The understanding of the people near to you will help them to understand your situation and motivate them to be to help you in the right way.
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2. INCREASE your performance. Believe in your own power and aim yourself at overcoming the process through your ability to influence it. It is a chance to develop your self control.
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3. INCREASE your motivation. Recognizing the situation and aim yourself at getting through on the basis of your previous experiences. Use your previous experiences to interpret the results in advance.
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4. PUT your goal at recovering in steps and try to work up these steps in a descending manner. This means first, you have to go through the preparations for the operation until you get to the operation room. Secondly, you have to pass through the immediate post operative period. Thirdly. you have to recover the post operative acute phase. Fourthly, you should have a smooth re convalescence to prepare yourself to regain your normal productive level.
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5. KEEP in mind that not all the results of your trials to solve the above mentioned steps will be perfectly successful. A reasonable result is enough to motivate you for a better result in overcoming the next step. If you do not succeed in overcoming one of the steps, you have to recover your self confidence rapidly to be able to regain your motivation for conquering the next step.
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6. UNDERSTAND that your ability to overcome the stress of the operation, influences your neurobiological system and your emotional feelings which in turn influence the immunological reactions of the body and consequently the healing process. Manipulate the risk of the operation with a special feeling and tolerance and rise above your fears.
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7. CHANGE your surroundings. Keep your room clean, tidy and naturally lit. Involve yourself in your hobby after the surgery (reading, hearing music, care of your aquarium etc...). Do not stay alone but select a friend whom you like to support you. Your friend must be close to you, creative and positive thinking. Take him with you to the surgery, if possible and let him or her accompany you after the surgery back home.
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8. KEEP your personal care to its utmost. Shave every day and take care of your hair and body. Make and serve your meals in different ways from what you are used to. Wear nice light clothes that you like to wear during home celebrations. Do not sink into watching TV in a silent dark and quiet room. You may sit in a comfortable chair relaxing your muscles and controlling your breath.  Take the opportunity to phone your friends and relatives whom you have not phone for a while. Try to make arrangements for your future recreation and leisure time after recovery. Always think positively.

The pre operative preparation:

The optimal result of the operation is achieved when the general condition of the patient is very well known to avoid any unnecessary anesthesia, hazards or complications. The correction of any deviation of general health or organ function (liver, kidney, lung, heart) or general metabolism is important for the tolerance of both anesthesia and operation and for the guarantee of  healing of the wound and a smooth recovery.

I advise every patient to have a general medical check up done by the staff of general medicine.